Robo Arrested On Concealed Weapon Charge – April 20, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Kevin L. Hoover

Eye Editor

HUMBOLDT – Activist Jason Robo was arrested last week on two outstanding warrants over an incident at his home last year.

Robo was participating in the Wednesday, April 13 protest over state budget cuts to the California State University system. At about 1:25 p.m., the picketers with whom he was marching happened to pass through the lobby of the Student and Business Services Building where the University Police Department is located. There, officers spotted Robo, confirmed that the warrants were still in effect and arrested him without incident.

The warrants stem from a June 10, 2010 incident at Robo’s McKinleyville residence. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brenda Godsey said Robo had called 911 for unknown reasons, and a deputy responded.

[Editor’s note: contrary to the erroneous initial reporting, this encounter took place not at a residence, but on U.S. Highway 101, where Jason Robo was bicycling. We regret the error. – Ed.]

According to HCSO records, Robo answered the door drunk and and yelled at the deputy, “I’m the one who called you!” The deputy said he believed Robo and asked him not to put his hands in his pockets.

Robo continued to state that he called the deputy and to reach into his pockets, and the deputy continued to say that he believed Robo and asked that he keep his hands out of his pockets.

At some point, Robo reportedly stated, “My knife is…” and reached for something. The deputy then took Robo into custody, searched him and found a concealed fix-blade knife.

He was arrested on a felony concealed weapon charge and taken to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for booking. There, he refused to allow officers to collect a DNA sample as is mandatory for in felony arrests, and a midemeanor charge was added for that.

When he failed to appear for a court date, Judge Tim Cissna on Feb. 17 issued a pair of $25,000 arrest warrants.

Robo was released on bail Friday, April 15.

Robo has a colorful history as an activist and media personality. A participant in the “9/11 Truth” movement, ardent cannabis reform advocate and HSU student activist, Robo describes himself as “a hyper-activist and scholarly revolutionary,” and a Taurus.

He presents his observations and theories on an Internet video program called Unstacking the Deck.

In 2009, Robo organized a short-lived boycott of the Arcata Eye based on what he said was the paper’s distorted and untruthful coverage of “cannaculture,” or cannabis culture.

Another of Robo’s avocations is crafting parts for hookkahs.

In 2007, Robo was elected as an HSU student representative, then impeached and ruled ineligible to re-run due to failing to meet academic standards. He blamed political persecution by the administration.

Robo’s previous brush with the law occurred July 30, 2008 at Boston’s Logan Airport. After boarding a Delta flight for Salt Lake City and using a restroom, a crewmember found a hand-lettered sticker on a mirror that said “9/11 was an inside job.”

According to a flight attendant, he then stated, “I have to get off this plane right now,” and charged off the plane. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, interference with aircraft operation and disorderly conduct on a public conveyance.

Robo denied the charges, and was placed on six-month pre-trial probation. The charges were dismissed on July 9, 2009.

Not even former Weather Underground revolutionary William Ayers escaped Robo’s withering scrutiny. After a book signing and talk at Northtown Books last year, Robo aggressively questioned Ayers about his father, Thomas G. Ayers’ service on the boards of defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. and G.D. Searle & Company.

After patiently enduring a somewhat antagonistic barrage of questions, Ayers told Robo that he couldn’t vouch for or endorse all of his father’s business dealings, but that he was his dad and he loved him.